THE owner of a pizza takeaway in Chesylesmore has been granted a late licence to serve drinkers leaving a neighbouring club.

Papa John’s Pizza in Cheylesmore will now be able to open from 4am to 1am after the franchise owner called on councillors to allow him to stay open after last orders at Cheylesmore Social Club.

Majinder Singh Bath has vowed to install a network of CCTV cameras to ensure the fast food takeaway in Quinton Park does not become a magnet for anti-social behaviour.

He said: “The reason I would like an extension is to serve my current customers.

"We have a social club opposite and they’re open until midnight.

"There are customers coming from the social club who would like to use our services.

“People sometimes go for a drink and to play pool and by the time they finish they would like a pizza.

"We don’t have a sit-and-eat area so people don’t stay around the premises.

“In the current climate business is tough and if you grant me this licence it would help to make sure we are successful over the next ten years.”

Councillor Hazel Noonan (Con, Cheylesmore) had opposed the plan claiming the current opening hours until midnight were sufficient.

Coun Noonan also expressed concerns the extension would set a precedent for other takeaways in the area.

But Mr Singh told the licensing committee that there are Indian and Chinese takaways either side of Papa John’s – both of which are open after midnight.

He denied the extended hours would lead to noise nuisance and youths congregating outside, pointing to figures showing 80 per cent of its business was ordered over the phone and delivered to customers.

He also brought with him a petition of 43 signatures from customers calling for an extension of the takeaway’s opening hours.

The council had received one letter of objection to the extension, from a resident living nearby.

He added: “Over the last decade we have served our community in a good and proper manner.

"We have a lot of repeat customers coming back to use us week in week out.

“We haven’t had a single complaint from local residents about litter or misbehaving.

"Basically I just want to serve the customers here as I have been for the last ten years.”

The application was granted in full but Mr Singh must install the six CCTV cameras – four inside the takeaway and two outside – before the extension is active.

The late licence is still dependent on a successful planning application.